Forward Madison FC earned a huge home victory Saturday night in front of its largest USL League One crowd ever, beating Orlando City B 1-0 at Breese Stevens Field. Midfielder J.C. Banks scored the only goal of the game, slotting home in the second half to delight the announced crowd of 4,539.
According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, the fans’ constant energy pushed his team over the finish line.
“Our guys live off of this – they really do thrive off of what our fans bring to us,” Shore said. “Tonight was a playoff mentality; it’s not going to be pretty, but if you win 1-0, you’ll take it.”
Coming off its only bye weekend of the season, the Flamingos started out looking refreshed early on. Oliver White (making his first home start) and Paulo Júnior both came close on chances in the first few minutes of play, and FMFC continued strongly from that point forward.
OCB arrived in Madison in somewhat of a turmoil after firing manager Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita on Thursday, replacing him with Roberto Sibaja on an interim basis. The Lions were also without midfielder Serginho – who leads the team in assists and shots – and top-scorer Thiago Souza, neither of whom made the match-day roster.
Despite the chance presented by a weakened opponent, the Flamingos missed a huge opportunity to establish themselves through the team’s first penalty kick of the season in the 26th minute. After Oliver White was taken down in the box, Don Smart sent his spot kick wide right following a stutter step.
After pressing forward relentlessly, though, FMFC’s goal finally came in the 57th minute courtesy of the Wisconsin native J.C. Banks, who was alert to a Josiel Núñez chip into the box and pounced on the opportunity just ahead of his defender. Banks, who has now scored four goals for Forward Madison this year, said it was a relief to go ahead after wasting other chances early on.
“We definitely should’ve put the game away by a couple goals,” Banks said. “We had some really good opportunities that we didn’t finish, so we made it hard on ourselves, but we got three points, so it’s all good.”
Forward Madison FC earned a huge home victory Saturday night in front of its largest USL League One crowd ever, beating Orlando City B 1-0 at Breese Stevens Field. Midfielder J.C. Banks scored the only goal of the game, slotting home in the second half to delight the announced crowd of 4,539.
According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, the fans’ constant energy pushed his team over the finish line.
“Our guys live off of this – they really do thrive off of what our fans bring to us,” Shore said. “Tonight was a playoff mentality; it’s not going to be pretty, but if you win 1-0, you’ll take it.”
Coming off its only bye weekend of the season, the Flamingos started out looking refreshed early on. Oliver White (making his first home start) and Paulo Júnior both came close on chances in the first few minutes of play, and FMFC continued strongly from that point forward.
OCB arrived in Madison in somewhat of a turmoil after firing manager Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita on Thursday, replacing him with Roberto Sibaja on an interim basis. The Lions were also without midfielder Serginho – who leads the team in assists and shots – and top-scorer Thiago Souza, neither of whom made the match-day roster.
Despite the chance presented by a weakened opponent, the Flamingos missed a huge opportunity to establish themselves through the team’s first penalty kick of the season in the 26th minute. After Oliver White was taken down in the box, Don Smart sent his spot kick wide right following a stutter step.
After pressing forward relentlessly, though, FMFC’s goal finally came in the 57th minute courtesy of the Wisconsin native J.C. Banks, who was alert to a Josiel Núñez chip into the box and pounced on the opportunity just ahead of his defender. Banks, who has now scored four goals for Forward Madison this year, said it was a relief to go ahead after wasting other chances early on.
“We definitely should’ve put the game away by a couple goals,” Banks said. “We had some really good opportunities that we didn’t finish, so we made it hard on ourselves, but we got three points, so it’s all good.”
In the end, the Flamingos secured their second clean sheet in USL League One, finishing off another electric home evening for Madison’s team.
Up next for Forward Madison is a trip in four days’ time to Toronto FC II on July 31 before home matches against FC Tucson on August 3 and against Richmond Kickers on August 10. According to Shore, if Saturday night’s game was any indicator, his team will always be able to count on a 12th man when it plays at Breese Stevens Field.
“Let me ask you this, was the game exciting?” Shore said. “I think the fans are realizing whether we win or lose or tie, we’re bringing everything we have. It’s very exciting, so you have to give credit to the fans that keep coming and keep coming.”
In the end, the Flamingos secured their second clean sheet in USL League One, finishing off another electric home evening for Madison’s team.
Up next for Forward Madison is a trip in four days’ time to Toronto FC II on July 31 before home matches against FC Tucson on August 3 and against Richmond Kickers on August 10. According to Shore, if Saturday night’s game was any indicator, his team will always be able to count on a 12th man when it plays at Breese Stevens Field.
“Let me ask you this, was the game exciting?” Shore said. “I think the fans are realizing whether we win or lose or tie, we’re bringing everything we have. It’s very exciting, so you have to give credit to the fans that keep coming and keep coming.”
Forward Madison FC
Head Coach: Daryl Shore
Goalkeeper- Dayne St. Clair #97
Defender- Christian Diaz #27YC
Defender- Wyatt Omsberg #22
Defender – Connor Tobin #13 (captain)
Defender- Carter Manley #2
Midfielder – J.C. Banks #29⚽
Midfielder – Eric Leonard #3 YC
Midfielder – Josiel Nunez #70 (90+2’ Ally Hamis Ng’Azni #12)
Forward- Don Smart #7 YC (75’- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77)
Forward- Paulo Jr. #11
Forward – Oliver White #20 (76’- Brian Bement #14YC )
Substitutes
G- Brian Sylvestre
D- Shaun Russell #15
M- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
M- Ally Hamis Ng’Anzi #12
M- Louis Bennett #21
F- Brian Bement #14
F- Danny Tenorio #10
Orlando City B
Head Coach: Roberto Sibaja
Goalkeeper – Christian Herrera #12 YC
Defender- Jordan Hill #13
Defender- Matheus Silva #6
Defender- Leonardo Simas #2 YC
Defender – Wilfred Williams #3
Midfielder – Ates Diouf #21 (captain) YC
Midfielder- Austin Amer #18
Midfielder – Rafael Santos #10
Forward- Luc Granitur #25 (54’- Moises Tablante #24)
Forward – Tresor Mbuyu #7 (54’- Steven Hernandez #20)
Forward- Christopher Osei-Wusu #8 (72’- William Bagrou #9)
Substitutes
GK- Juliano Chade #1
D- Steven Hernandez #20
F- William Bagrou #9
D- Randy Mendoza #14
D- Tanner Hummel #15
F- Moises Tablante #24
F- Jahlane Forbes #16
Goals
Forward Madison FC
57’- J.C. Banks #29 (Josiel Nunez #70)
Yellow Cards
Forward Madison FC
29’- Don Smart #7
83’- Eric Leonard #3
89’- Brian Bement #14
90+4’- Christian Diaz #27
Orlando City B
34’- Ates Diouf #21
83’- Leonardo Simas #2
89’- Christian Herrera #12
Referees
Laura Rodriguez
Ethan Buege
Ryan Birdsall
Peter Bernardy
Venue
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, WI
Attendance
4,539- Highest attended USL League One match
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on August 3 vs FC Tucson. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at:https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
Forward Madison FC
Head Coach: Daryl Shore
Goalkeeper- Dayne St. Clair #97
Defender- Christian Diaz #27YC
Defender- Wyatt Omsberg #22
Defender – Connor Tobin #13 (captain)
Defender- Carter Manley #2
Midfielder – J.C. Banks #29â½
Midfielder – Eric Leonard #3 YC
Midfielder – Josiel Nunez #70 (90+2’ Ally Hamis Ng’Azni #12)
Forward- Don Smart #7 YC (75’- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77)
Forward- Paulo Jr. #11
Forward – Oliver White #20 (76’- Brian Bement #14YC )
Substitutes
G- Brian Sylvestre
D- Shaun Russell #15
M- Jiro Barriga Toyama #77
M- Ally Hamis Ng’Anzi #12
M- Louis Bennett #21
F- Brian Bement #14
F- Danny Tenorio #10
Orlando City B
Head Coach: Roberto Sibaja
Goalkeeper – Christian Herrera #12 YC
Defender- Jordan Hill #13
Defender- Matheus Silva #6
Defender- Leonardo Simas #2 YC
Defender – Wilfred Williams #3
Midfielder – Ates Diouf #21 (captain) YC
Midfielder- Austin Amer #18
Midfielder – Rafael Santos #10
Forward- Luc Granitur #25 (54’- Moises Tablante #24)
Forward – Tresor Mbuyu #7 (54’- Steven Hernandez #20)
Forward- Christopher Osei-Wusu #8 (72’- William Bagrou #9)
Substitutes
GK- Juliano Chade #1
D- Steven Hernandez #20
F- William Bagrou #9
D- Randy Mendoza #14
D- Tanner Hummel #15
F- Moises Tablante #24
F- Jahlane Forbes #16
Goals
Forward Madison FC
57’- J.C. Banks #29 (Josiel Nunez #70)
Yellow Cards
Forward Madison FC
29’- Don Smart #7
83’- Eric Leonard #3
89’- Brian Bement #14
90+4’- Christian Diaz #27
Orlando City B
34’- Ates Diouf #21
83’- Leonardo Simas #2
89’- Christian Herrera #12
Referees
Laura Rodriguez
Ethan Buege
Ryan Birdsall
Peter Bernardy
Venue
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, WI
Attendance
4,539- Highest attended USL League One match
Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season is here! The team will play its next home game on August 3 vs FC Tucson. Get tickets to see Forward Madison’s inaugural season at:https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
